Thread winding apparatus



1956 s. FURST EIAL THREAD WINDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1952 STEFAN 'Fu R g i l/ g WALTER REI/YERS BY s. FURST ETAL THREAD WINDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 28, 1956 Filed Jan. 10, 1952 P/w FORS WALTER KE/NERS United States Patent THREAD WINDING APPARATUS Stefan Fiirst, Munich-Gladbach, and Walter Reiners, Waldniel (Niederrhein), Germany; said Fiirst assignor to said Reiners Application January 10, 1952, Serial No. 265,791

17 Claims. or. 242-336) The present invention relates to a thread winding pro cess and apparatus, and is more par t icularly concerned with apparatus of this type which includes an automatic supply-spool changing device and a knottieing device.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U. S. application Serial No. 227,553, filed May 22, 1951.

In known machines of the above type, various uncontrollable characteristics arise, as a result of the automatic operation of various parts of the machine, and result in the production of yarns of very poor quality and in very low running speeds and production rates. Because these machines automatically knot breaks in the thread, a very poor thread is produced when the supply spool delivers thread which is of an extremely poor quality and therefore breaks very frequently.

One of the objects of the present invention is to overcome the above disadvantages by providing a winding process and apparatus which is capable of automatically changing a supply spool when an above-average number of thread breaks occur in the thread of a supply spool.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for indicating the number of the thread breaks in the thread of the supply spool.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a means for preventing continual operation of the Winding apparatus unless a knot is properly tied.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a means for indicating when a knot is improperly tied.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a means for testing the strength of a thread.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a means for testing a knot in a thread.

The objects of the present invention also include a means for automatically actuating a supply-spool changing mechanism when the amount of thread in the supply spool has been reduced to a predetermined limit.

With the above objects in view the present invention mainly consists of a thread winding apparatus having a thread guiding roller rotatably mounted thereon and a takeup spool resting against the guiding roller to be rotated by the same when the latter is rotated. A first solenoid means is operatively connected to the take -up spool to press the same against the guiding roller. The thread being wound on the take-up spool moves toward the guid ing roller along a tangent to the latter, and a pair of thread supports, over which the thread moves, are located along this tangent. A testing lever is pivotally mounted at an intermediate part thereof on the apparatus, this testing lever having one end portion located opposite the space between the thread supports and an opposite end portion operatively connected to a second solenoid means which turns the testing lever to move the one end portion thereof into the space between the thread supports. An actuating means common to bothof the solenoid means is operatively connected to the latter to simultaneously actuate the same so as to press the take-up spool against the guiding roller to increase the pulling force on the thread and so as to simultaneously move the one end portion of the lever into the space between the thread supports so as to tension thread moving on said supports toward the guiding roller and located opposite this one end portion of the testing leve'r.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its-methodof operation, together with additional'objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the ac companying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic illustration of part of the apparatus of the present invention, with parts of the structure of Fig. 1 shown fragmentarily;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a detail of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of another part of the structure of the apparatus and shows the relationship between the structure of Fig. 3 and that of Fig. l; and r Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of still another part of the apparatus of the present invention and shows the relationship between the structure of Fig. 4 and that of Figs. 1 and 3.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1 a shaft 1 which is rotatably mounted in the apparatus and driven by any suitable means (not shown). On the shaft 1 there is fixedly mounted a thread gui ding roller 2 for rotating with the shaft 1. The take-up spool 3 rests on the guiding roller 2 and is rotatably supported in a spool-holding frame member 4, which is pivotally mounted on the apparatus at 5. The frame 4 turns about the pivot 5 as thetake-up spool 3 gradually becomes thicker. 0n the thread F, which moves toward the roller 2 along a tangent to the latter and which is tensioned by a tensioning roller 62, there bears the feeler members 6 and 7 in the vicinity of which the thread supports 8, 9, 10 and 11 are located, the thread supports being stationary and mounted on the apparatus on the opposite side of the tangent, along which thread F moves, from the feeler members 6 and 7.

The feeler member 6 is mounted on a stationary pivot 12 for turning movement and carries a lever portion 13 as well as an opposite lever portion having a contact 14 mounted thereon. The feeler 7 is mounted on a stationary pivot 15 for turning movement and carries a lever portion 18 provided with a contact 16 and a projection 17. The electrical circuit 19, 20 includes the contact 14 therein and is supplied with current from the battery 21 or any other suitable source, this circuit 19, 20 also including a stationary contact 22 located opposite contact 14. The circuit 19, 20 may be opened and closed by a switch 23 adapted to engage the contacts 24 and 25. In the circuit 19, 20 there is located a solenoid coil 26 and a counting device 27 having a stop member 28 adjustably mounted thereon and adapted to close the circuit 29, 30 when the pointer 27' of counting device 27 contacts the member 28.

The coil 26 is' located about an armature 31 whichextends" into a notch 32-of the disc 33. Disc 33, as well as discs 34 and 35 is fixedly mounted upon a common drive shaft 36, which also has mounted thereon additional control discs foractuating various parts of the winding apparatus, not shown and in themselves old. In the peripheral portion of disc 34 there is formed a cut-out 37. The disc 35 is provided with a cut-out 38 in the peripheral portion thereof. The discs 33,- 34 and 35Iare illustrated in'Fig. 1 in their position ofrest, and when'they are operating they turn in the direction of arrow 40.

The contact 16 on lever 18 is located opposite the stationary contact 16 to close the electrical circuit 41, 42 which is supplied with current from any suitable source such as battery 43, this circuit 41, 42 including therein the solenoid 44 which actuates the switch 23. The battery 43 also supplies current to a circuit 45 in which is located a signal device 46 adapted to be energized by contact between pointer 48 of the counting device 47 and the adjustable contact 49 of the latter.

Fig. 2 diagrammatically illustrates the construction of device 27 of Fig. l, for example. It is seen in Fig. 2 that the circuit 19, 20 includes therein the solenoid coil 50 which actuates a solenoid armature having an extension 51 hingedly connected thereto at 50, this extension 51 carrying a pawl member 51' which engages with the teeth 52 of the ratchet wheel 53 which is rotatably mounted on the apparatus. The end of extension 51 distant from coil 50 is connected to a pin member extending beneath the hook member 57 which is pivotally mounted on the apparatus at 56, and this pin member is connected to an extension 54 hingedly connected at 54 to the armature located in solenoid coil 55, the latter being located in the circuit 29, 30. The hook 57 engages the teeth 52 of ratchet wheel 53. The ratchet wheel 53 carries an extension located opposite an adjustably mounted stop 58 and carrying a contact 59. The lead 60 forming part of circuit 29, 30 carries an adjustable stationary contact 61 located opposite contact 59. The leads of circuit 29, 30 shown in Fig. 2 correspond to the circuit 29, 30 shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates the structure of the device which is located below the tensioning roller 62 which maintains the thread F taut. Below the tensioning roller 62 there is located the feeler lever 63 which cooperates with thread supports 64 and which is mounted for turning movement on the stationary pivot 65. The supply spool 67 is located below the feeler lever 63 and supplies thread to the takeup spool 3. As is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3 when the supply spool 67 is almost empty it carries a remaining amount of thread 68. A feeler member 69 is mounted for turning movement on a stationary pivot 70, carries a lever '71, and also carries the electrical contact 72. This latter contact 72 is electrically interconnected with the line 30. A lead 73 carries the contact 74 as well as a pivotally mounted contact 76 which is located opposite a stationary contact 79 located on the lead 77 in which the current source, such as battery 78, is located. The lead 39 includes the solenoid coil 80 which acts on the solenoid armature 81 to move rod 82 connected thereto in the direction of arrow 83.

On the drive shaft 36, shown in Figs. 1 and 3, there is fixedly mounted a cam 84 adapted to rotate in the direction of arrow 92 and carrying a curved extension 85. A lever 87 mounted for turning movement on the stationary pivot 86 is located against the cam 84 and carries at its end opposite to pivot 86 an elongated rod 88 pivotally connected to lever 87 and having fixedly mounted thereon the collars 89 and 99. Between the collar 90 and member 71 there is located the coil spring 91 which holds the feeler member 69 against the thread on spool 67 and which urges the collar 90 upwardly so asto maintain lever 87 in contact with cam 84.

Fig. 4 shows further structure of the apparatus which is only fragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 1 for the sake of clarity, the structure of Fig. 4 showing several of the parts also shown in Fig. 1, such as shaft 36, disc 35, feeler lever 7, guide roller 2, take-up spool 3, and the pivotally mounted spool supporting frame 4.

As is shown in Fig. 4, the take-up spool 3 rests against the guide roller 2 at point 120, so as to be driven by the guide rolier 2 due to frictional engagement between parts 2 and 3 at point 120. Pivotally connected at 121 on mem ber 4 is a rod 122 which is connected to a solenoid armature 123 located in the solenoid coil 124.

The thread F is contacted between the thread supports 10 and 11 by the feeler member 7, as is shown Figs. 1 and 4, and the projection 17 of portion 18 of lever 7 as well as portion 125 of lever 125, 126 are adapted to enter into the cut-out 38 formed in the periphery of disc 35, the lever 125, 126 being mounted for turning movemerit on the stationary pivot 127. The lever portion 126 carries at its outer end a contact 128 which is connected to a source of current 131 by means of the leads 129 and 130. The electrical circuit in which the current source 131 is located includes an adjustable resistance 132, a lead 133, the solenoid 123, 124, the lead 134, the solenoid coil 135 and the stationary contact 136 located opposite contact 128. The coil 135 is located about the solenoid armature 137 which is connected to member 138, the latter being pivotally connected to portion 139 of testing lever 139, 140 which is pivotally mounted at an intermediate part thereof on the stationary pivot 141. The outer end of testing lever portion 140 is substantially L-shaped and has a leg provided with a free end located opposite the space between thread supports 142 and 143 located along the tangent to guide roller 2 along which the thread F moves. The knot K connecting the adjacent ends of the previously broken thread is shown in Fig. 4 located between the guide roller 2 and the thread sup ports 142, 143.

The operation of the above described structure is as follows:

When a break occurs in the thread between the tensioning roller 62 and the take-up spool 3, the feeler lever 6 rotates in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, so as to move the contact 14 into engagement with the stationary contact 22 of the circuit 19, 20. The cutout 37 of disc 34 permits free movement of end portion 13 of lever '6 in the position of the parts illustrated in Fig. 1. Upon engagement between contacts 14 and 22, the coil 26 is energized to move armature 31 out of notch 32, and the shaft 36 is rotated in the direction of arrow 40 by any suitable means (not shown), so that discs 33, 34 and 35 are located therewith. The counting device 27 is also energized by engagement of contacts 14 and 22, the switch 23 being closed in its position of rest, and in this way the device 27 moves the pointer 27' thereof one calibration toward the contact 28. After a given number of thread breaks occur, the pointer 27' will engage contact 28 to close the circuit 29, 30 so as to send into operation an automatic spool changing device (not shown), as will be more fully explained below in connection with Fig. 3.

The counting device 27 whose structure is illustrated in Fig. 2 includes the contacts 59 and 61 which correspond to the contacts 27 and 28, as shown in Fig. l, and engage each other simultaneously with engagement of contacts 27' and 28. At each thread break and engagement of contacts 14 and 22, the coil 50 is energized to move member 51 and pawl 51' therewith so as to turn the ratchet wheel 53 through. a distance corresponding to the size of one of its teeth 52, the hook member 57 preventing rotation of ratchet wheel 53 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. This is repeated until contact 59 engages contact 61. Then the supply spool 67 is changed and the coil 55 is energized to raise member 54, the pin located at the lower end thereof, and the member 51 so as to completely release the ratchet wheel 53 which turns by gravity until the extension thereof contacts the stop 58 in order to set the counting device 27 in its starting position. During rotation of disc 34, the periphery of the latter engages end portion 13 of feeler lever 6 to maintain the same out of its operative position.

The feeler member 7 which contacts the periphery of disc 35twith its projection 17 can turn in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, only when one revolution of disc 35 is almost complete, at which time. the projection 17 can enter into the cut-out 38 of disc- 35. -When the cut-out 38 reaches projection 17, the

devices for making a knot in the thread, to connect the ends of the break therein together, and for again starting the rotation of guide roller 2 have completed their operations, and the knotted thread has started to move toward the take-up spool 3. In this way, when the cut out 38 is located opposite projection 17, the lever 7 is free to feel the thread and determine whether or not the break therein has been effectively repaired. If the latter is the case the thread itself will prevent contact 16 from moving into engagement with contact 16. However, if the broken thread has not been effectively knotted, the lever 7 will turn in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, to move contact 16 into engagement with contact 16'. The engagement of contacts 16 and 16' operates the counting device 47, which may have a structure similar to that shown in Fig. 2, so as to move the pointer 48 one calibration toward the contact 49. If the automatic knotting device repeatedly fails to effectively unite the broken ends of the thread, or after a certain number of breaks have occurred, the pointer 48 will engage the contact 49 to energize the signal 46. Moreover the counting device 47 may always be read by an attendant so as to give a visible indication of the number of breakdowns in the apparatus.

During the operation of device 47 upon engagement of contact 16 and 16', the coil 44 is energized so as to maintain the switch 23 open, and in this way the turning of feeler member 6 during ineffective knotting of the broken thread is prevented from actuating the counting device 27. As long as the thread remains broken, the end portion 13 of lever 6 will enter cut-out 37 during rotation of disc 34 to bring contacts 14 and 22 into engagement with each other and thereby energize coil 26 to hold armature 31 out of notch 32 to permit the rotation of shaft 36 to continue.

As is shown in Fig. 3, the feeler lever 63 rests against the thread moving from the supply spool 67 to the tensioning roller 62. Also, the feeler 69 maintains the lever portion 71 and contact 72 in a predetermined position dependent upon the amount of thread on the supply spool 67. Upon rotation of shaft 36, as was described above, the cam 84 rotates therewith and the portion 85 thereof moves the lever 87 about pivot 86 to depress the rod 88 against the action of spring 91. Upon return movement of rod 88 to the position shown in Fig. 3, collar 89 engages lever 63 to move the same back to a position adjacent its operative position, lever 63 being then moved to the position shown in Fig. 3 by the repaired thread. When a break in the thread occurs and contacts 61 and 59 engage each other, as described above, current is supplied from battery 78 to contact 79, contact 76, and lead 29 so that the circuit 29, is closed, the contact 76 having been moved into engagement with contact 79 by the lower end of rod 88 which moves downwardly upon rotation of cam 84. In this way, the coil 80 is energized so as to move armature 81 and rod 82 therewith in the direction of arrow 83 to set into operation the automatic spool changing mechanism (not shown) which removes supply spool 67 and replaces the same with another supply spool. It should be remembered that the structure described above, and in particular that described in connection with Fig. 2, does not permit the circuit 29, 30 to be closed until a predetermined number of thread breaks have occurred, so that even though the shaft 36, and cam 84 therewith, is turned when the thread breaks, the coil 80 will not be energized until after the predetermined number of thread breaks for which the device 27 is set.

Spring 91 resting on member 71 causes collar 90 to be gradually lowered, and lever 87 to be gradually lowered therewith, as feeler 69 is turned about pivot during reduction in the amount of thread on the spool 67. w This lowering of collar 90 by movement of member 71 causes rod 88 to move contact 76 toward contact 79. When a portion of thread 68 remains on spool 67, the feeler 69 will be in such a position that contact 72 will engage 74 simultaneously with the engagement of contacts 76 and 79 so as to complete the circuit through coil to start the operation of the supply-spool changing mechanism.

After a knot K has been tied by the automatic knot tieing mechanism (not shown) and the projection 17 of lever portion 18 is located opposite cut-out 38, lever portion also is located opposite cut-out 38 so that lever portion 126 can move downwardly from its inoperative position, shown in Fig. 4, to an operative position where contact 128 engages contact 136 to simultaneously energize solenoid coils and 124 (Fig. 4). Thus, the pressure between guide roller 2 and take-up spool 3 is increased at point 120 to increase the pulling force on the thread F, and simultaneously with this operation the lever 139, 140 is turned in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4, so as to move the lower end of the testing lever 139, 140 into the space between thread supports 142 and 143. The thread is thereby caused to turn about the lower end of lever portion Mil as well as about thread supports 142 and 143 so that the path through which the'thr'ead moves thereby has its length increased and the tension in the thread F is in this way increased so as to test the knot K by tensioning the thread F between the point 120 and the supports 142, 143. As was outlined above, the feeler lever 7 indicates whether or not the knot K effectively joins the adjacent ends of the broken thread.

It will be understood that each of the elements as scribed above, or two orrnore together, may also find a useful application in other types of thread Winding process and apparatus differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in thread winding process and apparatus which includes a means for testing a knotted thread, it

is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be securedby Letters Patent is:

1. Thread testing apparatus, comprising in combination, a thread-guiding roller rotatably mounted on the apparatus, a take-up spool resting against said roller to be rotated by the same when the latter is rotated, first pulling means operatively connected to said take-up spool for pressing the same against said roller, a pair of spaced, stationary thread supports located along a tangent to said roller, a testing lever pivotally mounted at an intermediate part thereof on the apparatus and having one end portion thereof located opposite the space between said thread supports and an opposite end portion thereof operativeiy connected to a second pulling means for turning said lever and moving said one end portion thereof into said space, and an actuating means common and operatively connected to said first and second pulling means for actuating the same to simultaneously press said take-up spool against said guiding roller and move said one end portion of said testing lever into said. space so as to tension thread moving along said tangent on said supports toward said guiding roller and located opposite said one end portion of said testing lever.

2. Thread testing apparatus, comprising in combination, a thread-guiding roller rotatably mounted on the apparatus, a take-up spool resting against said roller to be rotated by the same when the latter is rotated, first pulling means operatively connected to said take-up spool for pressing the 'same against said roller, a pair of spaced, stationary thread supports located along a tangent to said roller, a testing lever pivotally mounted at an intermediate part thereof on the apparatus and having one end portion thereof substantially L-shaped and provided with a leg extending transversely to said thread supports and having a free end located opposite the space between said thread supports, said testing lever having an opposite end portion thereof operatively connected to a second pulling means for turning said lever and moving said leg portion thereof into said space, and an actuating means common and operatively connected to said first and second pulling means for actuating the same to simultaneously press said take-up spool against said guiding roller and move said leg of said testing lever into said space so as to tension thread moving along said tangent on said supports toward said guiding roller and located opposite said one end portion of said testing lever.

3. Thread testing apparatus for testing a knotted thread, comprising in combination a thread-guiding roller rotatably mounted on the apparatus, a take-up spool resting against said roller to be rotated by the same when the latter is rotated, first solenoid means operatively connected to said take-up spool for pressing the same against said roller, a pair of spaced, stationary thread supports located along a tangent to said roller, :1 testing lever pivotally mounted at an intermediate part thereof on the apparatus and having one end portion thereof substantially L-shaped and provided with a leg extending transversely to said thread supports and having a free end located opposite the space between said thread supports, said testing lever having an opposite end portion thereof operatively connected to a second solenoid means for turning said lever and moving said leg thereof into said space, and an electrical actuating means common and operatively connected to said first and second solenoid means for actuating the same to simultaneously press said take-up spool against said guiding roller and move said leg of said testing lever into said space so as to tension thread moving along said tangent on said supports toward said guiding roller and located opposite said one end portion of said testing lever.

4. Thread testing apparatus for testing a knotted thread, comprising in combination, a thread-guiding roller rotatably mounted on the apparatus, a take-up spool resting against said roller to be rotated by the same when the latter is rotated, first solenoid means operatively connected to said take-up spool for pressing the same against said roller, a pair of spaced, stationary thread supports located along a tangent to said roller, a testing lever pivotally mounted at an intermediate part thereof on the apparatus and having one end portion thereof substantially L-slraped and provided with a leg extending transversely to said thread supports and having a free end located opposite the space between said thread supports, said testinglever having an opposite end portion thereof operatively connected to a second solenoid means for turning said lever and moving said leg thereof into said space, and an electrical circuit having a variable resistance therein and being common and operatively connected to said first and second solenoid means for actuating the same with adjustable forces, respectively, that have a predetermined ratio to each other, so as to simultaneously press said take-up spool against said guiding roller and move said leg of said testing lever into said space so as to tension thread moving along said tangent on said supports toward said guiding roller and located opposite said one end portion of said testing lever.

5. Thread testing apparatus, comprising in combination, a thread-guiding roller rotatably mounted on the apparatus, a take-up spool resting against said roller to be rotated by the same when the latter is rotated, an elongated spool-holding member connected to said takeup spool and being pivotally mounted on the apparatus, a first solenoid operatively connected to said spool holding member, a pair of spaced, stationary thread supports located along a tangent to said guiding roller, a testing lever pivotally mounted on the apparatus and having an end portion located opposite the space between said thread supports, a second solenoid operatively connected to said testing lever for moving said end portion thereof into said space, and an electrical circuit including the coils of said solenoids for simultaneously actuating the latter so as to press said take-up spool against said guiding roller and simultaneously move said end portion of said testing lever into said space to tension thread moving along said tan gent on said supports toward said guiding roller and located opposite said lever end portion.

6. Thread testing apparatus, comprising in combination, a thread-guiding roller rotatably mounted on the apparatus, a take-up spool resting against said roller to be rotated by the same when the latter is rotated, an

elongated spool-holding member connected to said takeup spool and being pivotally mounted on the apparatus, a first solenoid operatively connected to said spool holding member, a pair of spaced, stationary thread supports located along a tangent to said guiding roller, a testing lever pivotally mounted on the apparatus and having an end portion located opposite the space between said thread supports, a second solenoid operatively connected to said testing lever for moving said end portion thereof into said space, and an electrical circuit including the coils of said solenoids for simultaneously actuating the atter so as to press said take-up spool against said guiding r0 ler and simultaneously move said end portion of said testing lever into said space to tension thread moving along said tangent on said supports toward said guiding roller and located opposite said lever end portion, said electrical circuit also including a variable resistance so that the forces of said solenoids may be adjusted while being maintained in a predetermined ratio with respect to each other.

7. Thread testing apparatus, comprising in combination, a thread-guiding roller rotatably mounted on the apparatus, a take-up spool resting against said roller to be rotated by the same when the latter is rotated, an elon-" gated spool-holding member connected to said take-up spool and being pivotally mounted on the apparatus, a first solenoid operatively connected to said spool hold ing member, a pair of spaced, stationary thread supports located along a tangent to said guiding roller, a testing lever pivotally mounted on the apparatus and having an end portion located opposite the space between said thread supports, a second solenoid operatively connected to said testing lever for moving said end portion thereof into said space, an electrical circuit including the coils of said solenoids for simultaneously actuating the' latter so as to press said take-up spool against said guiding roller and simultaneously move said end portion of said testing lever into said space to tension thread moving along said tangent on said supports toward said guiding roller and located opposite said lever end portion, and feeler means mounted on the apparatus and having an end portion located adjacent said tangent nearer to said guiding roller than said supports to move against thread moving from said supports toward said guiding roller and indicate whether or not the thread is broken by said testing lever.

8. Thread. testing apparatus, comprising in combination, a thread-guiding roller rotatably mounted on'the. apparatus, a take-up spool resting against said roller to be rotated by the same when the latter is rotated, an elongated spool-holding member connected to said take-up spool and being pivotally mounted on the apparatus, a first solenoid operatively connected to said spool holding member, a pair of spaced, stationary thread supports located along a tangent to said guiding roller, a testing level-pivotally mounted on the apparatus and having an end portion located opposite the space between said thread supports, a second solenoid operatively connected to said testing lever for moving said end portion thereof into said space, an electrical circuit including the coils of said solenoids for simultaneously actuating the latter so as to press said take-up spool against said guiding roller and simultaneously move said end portion of said testing lever into said space to tension thread moving along said tangent on said supports toward said guiding roller and located opposite said lever end portion, and a feeler lever pivotally mounted on the apparatus and having an end portion located adjacent said tangent nearer to said guiding roller than said supports to move against thread moving from said supports toward said guiding roller and indicative whether or not the thread is broken by said testing lever.

9. Thread testing apparatus comprising in combination, a thread-guiding roller rotatably mounted on the apparatus, a take-up spool resting against said roller to be rotated by the same when the latter is rotated, a pair of spaced, stationary thread supports located along one side of a tangent to said roller, a testing lever pivotally mounted on the apparatus on an opposite side of said tangent from said thread supports and having an end portion located opposite the space between said supports, and moving means operatively connected to said lever for moving said end portion of the same toward said supports, across said tangent and into said space to tension a thread extending along said tangent across said supports and located opposite said lever end portion.

10. Thread testing apparatus, comprising in combination, electrically actuated thread tensioning means, feeler means located adjacent to said thread tensioning means to determine if a thread is broken by said thread tensioning means, and cam means operatively connected and common to said thread tensioning means and feeler means for simultaneously actuating the same.

11. Thread testing apparatus, comprising in combination, thread tensioning means mounted on the apparatus, a disc rotatably mounted on the apparatus and being formed with a cut-out in its periphery, an electrical circuit operatively connected to said thread tensioning means for actuating the same and having a switch member mounted on a stationary pivot laterally spaced from the center of said disc, said switch member having one portion on one side of said pivot bearing against said periphery of said disc and an opposite portion on an opposite side of said pivot maintained in an inoperative position by said disc and said one switch member portion until the latter enters said cut-out of said disc upon rotation of the latter so as to move said opposite portion of said switch member to an operative position for closing a switch of said electrical circuit to actuate said tensioning means.

12. Thread testing apparatus comprising in combination, thread tensioning means mounted on the apparatus, a disc rotatably mounted on the apparatus and being formed with a cut-out in its periphery, an electrical circuit operatively connected to said thread tensioning means for actuating the same, a pair of stationary pivots located adjacent to each other and being laterally spaced from the center of said disc, a switch member of said electrical circuit and a feeler member respectively mounted on said pivots for turning movement, said members each having one portion on one side of said pivots hearing against the periphery of said disc and an opposite portion on an opposite side of said pivots maintained in an inoperative position by said disc and one member portions until the latter enter said cut-out of said disc upon rotation of the latter to move said opposite portions of said members for closing a switch of said e1ec-- trrcal circuit to actuate said thread tensioning means and for determining if a thread is broken by said thread tensioning means.

13. Thread testing apparatus, comprising cornbination, thread tensioning means mounted on the apparatus, a disc rotatably mounted on the apparatus and being formed with a cut-out in its periphery, an electrical circuit operatively connected to said thread tensioning means for actuating the same, a pair of stationary pivots located adjacent to each other and being laterally spaced from the center of said disc, a switch member of said electrical circuit and a feeler member respectively mounted on said pivots for turning movement, said members respectively having follower portions on one side of said pivots bearing against the periphery of said disc at closely adjacent points thereon and opposite portions on an opposite side of said pivots maintained in an inoperative position by said disc and follower portions until the latter enter said cut-out of said disc upon rotation of the latter to move said opposite portions of said members for closing a switch of said electrical circuit to actuate said thread tensioning means and for simultaneously determining if a thread is broken by said thread tensioning means.

14. In a thread winding apparatus, in combination, first feeler means for determining if a thread is broken, thread tensioning means located on one side of said first feeler means for testing a knot made in a thread after a break in the same, and second feeler means located on an opposite side of said first feeler means to determine if the knotted thread is broken by said thread tensioning means.

15. Thread winding apparatus, comprising in combination, a thread guiding roller rotatably mounted on the apparatus, a take-up spool resting against said guiding roller to be rotated by the same upon rotation of the latter, first feeler means having an end portion located along a tangent to said guiding roller for indicating a break in thread moving along said tangent to said spool, thread tensioning means located along said tangent further from said roller than said first feeler means to test a knot made in the thread, and second feeler means located adjacent said tangent nearer to said roller than said first feeler means to indicate if the knotted thread is broken by said thread tensioning means.

16. Thread testing apparatus, comprising, in combination, a thread-guiding roller rotatably mounted on the apparatus, a take-up spool resting against said roller to be rotated by the same when the latter is rotated, a pair of spaced, stationary thread supports located along one side of a path leading to said roller, a testing lever pivotally mounted on the apparatus on a side of said path opposite from said thread supports and having an end portion located opposite the space between said supports, and moving means operatively connected to said lever for moving said end portion of the same toward said supports, across said path and into said space to tension a thread extending along said path across said supports and located opposite said lever end portions.

17. Thread testing apparatus for a textile machine which includes an automatic knot-tieing 'mechanism, comprising, in combination, a take-up spool; means for guiding a thread to said take-up spool; and thread tensioning means located next to said guide means for tensioning a thread passing along the same to said takeup spool after a knot is tied in the thread to test the knot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,895,741 Swanson Jan. 31, 1933 1,913,379 Flanagan June 13, 1933 2,143,297 Bochmann Jan. 10, 1939 2,395,464 Cotchett Feb. 26, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 358,316 Great Britain Oct. 8, 1931 26,897 Netherlands Dec. 15, 1931 830,701 France May 23, 1938 

